>From: mycroft@gnu.ai.mit.edu (Charles M. Hannum)
>Date: 23 Apr 1997 15:17:03 -0400

>Jukka Marin <jmarin@pyy.jmp.fi> writes:
>> NetBSD whines if you try to use UID or GID greater than USHRT_MAX (see
>> passwd.c in libutil).
>
>I just removed those checks.  However...

Cool, but:

>> I don't know if these checks could simply be removed
>> or if there's code than expects UID and GID to fit in a 16-bit int somewhere.
>
>...there may be interoperability problems with systems and/or
>executables for systems that have 16-bit IDs, if you use `large' IDs.

It doesn't take that much.  ar(1) produces garbage archives if fed
object files owned by someone with a 6+ digit UID.  See <ar.h>.
-- 
Mike Long <mikel@shore.net>                http://www.shore.net/~mikel
"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands,
hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." -- H.L. Mencken